-J  - 


ACCOUNT 


J^etospiiptrs  aiitr  aikx  ferioiritals 


PUBLISH  KD    IN    SALEM, 


1768  to  1856. 


BY     (ilLlJEKT     L.     SIKEKTER. 


SALEM: 

WJI.     IVES    AND   GEO.    VV.    I'E.VSK    PUINTEKS. 

OBSERVER      OFFICE. 

1850. 


i'ib 


k 


O-Z-tv- 


ACCOUNT 


Uduspaptrs  m)i  otijcr  f  rrio^itiils 


PUliLISHED    I\    SALEM, 


1768   to  1856. 


BY   (iir.r.Kirr   i,.  .stiii:i;ti;r. 


I  From  the   Proceedings  of  the   Es3sx   lostitutc. 


SALEM; 

,WM.     IVES    AND  GEO.    W.    I'EAEE    I'lllNTEIIS. 

OBSERVER     OFFICS. 

185G, 


NEWSPAPERS  AND  PERIODICALS  OF  SALEM, 


We  211'opose  to  give  some  account  of  the  several  nevrspapcrs 
and  other  periodicals,  ^vhich  have  been  published  in  Salem 
since  the  first  introduction  of  the  art  of  printing  into  this  town 
until  the  present  time.  The  review  will  carry  us  back  nearly 
a  century,  to  the  period  immediately  preceding  the  war  of  the 
Revolution ;  and  in  glancing  at  the  special  purposes  of  the 
various  periodicals  since  that  time,  "we  shall  obtain  glimpses  of 
the  successive  states  of  public  opinion  in  this  place.  The  list 
of  serials  during  these  years  is  a  long  one,  embracing  fifty 
separate  and  distinct  publications,  of  various  degrees  of  interest 
and  importance.  We  shall  mention  them  in  the  order  of  their 
commencement,  designating  each  by  its  appropriate  numeral. 

Salem  was  the  third  town  in  the  Colonies,  in  the  order  of 
time,  to  enjoy  the  advantages  of  a  public  printing  press.  It 
was  preceded  in  this  respect  by  both  Cambridge  and  Boston. 
The  former  place  contained  a  printing  jDress  as  early  as  1689, 
and  as  the  infant  University  was  located  there,  as  well  as  the 
local  government  of  the  colony,  the  persons  concerned  in  it 
were  encouraged  by  grants  of  land  from  the  General  Court. 
But  the  Puritan  authorities,  although  ready  to  patronize  this 
enterprise  to  some  extent,  still  regarded  the  freedom  of  printing 
■with  a  jealous  eye,  and  accordingly,  in  1662,  two  of  the  most 
worthy  and  highly  approved  of  the  clergymen  of  the  colony 
were  authorized  by  the  General  Court  to  act  as  licensers  of  the 
press.  Thus  the  dispensations  of  grace  on  the  part  of  the 
authorities  in  the  matter  of  land  w^ere  not  without  their 
equivalents  in  the  more  important  matter  of  free  printing. 
The  press  in  Boston  was  first  established  in  1674,  in  accordance 
with  leave  specially  granted  by  the  General  Court,  which  had 
previously  ordered,  in  1664,  that  there  should  be  no  other  press 
than  that  at  Cambridge. 


From  this  time  until  the  introduction  of  the  printing  business 
into  Salem  was  nearly  a  century.  In  the  mean  time  the  press 
had  been  relieved  from  the  supervision  and  control  of  the 
clergy,  and  its  absolute  independence  was  nearly  established. 
Several  newspapers  had  been  commenced  in  Boston,  and  there 
was  a  general  disposition  to  encourage  and  sustain  such  pub- 
lications.^' 

The  person  who  undertook  to  establish  the  printing  business 
in  Salem  Avas  Samuel  Hall,  a  young  man,  a  native  of 
Medford,  and  one  who,  from  his  qualities  of  mind  and  energy 
of  character,  was  well  suited  to  perform  the  task  of  a  pioneer 
in  this  matter.  He  was  a  practical  printer,  and  had  learned 
his  trade  of  his  uncle,  Daniel  Fowle,  who  was  the  first  printer 
in  New  Hampshire.  Before  coming  to  Salem  he  had  been 
concerned  with  Mrs.  Anne  Franklin,  sister-in-law  of  Benjamin 
Franklin,  in  the  publication  of  the  Newport  (R.I.)  Mercury,  a 
newspaper  originally  established  by  James  Franklin,  and 
which  has  been  continued  until  this  time. 

Mr.  Hall  opened  an  office  here  in  April  1768.  It  was 
located  on  Main  street,  a  few  doors  above  the  Town  House — 
about  where  Kinsman's  new  building  is  situated.  This  was 
then,  as  noAY,  near  the  centre  of  business."!" 


*  The  first  attempt  to  establisli  a  newspaper  in  North  America,  was 
made,  in  1G90,  when  (Sept.  25)  a  single  number  of  a  small  sheet  Avas 
printed  in  Boston,  by  Richard  Pierce,  for  Benj.  Harris.  It  was  condemned, 
at  once  by  the  public  authorities,  and  it  is  believed  that  a  second  number 
was  never  issued.  The  only  copy  known  to  be  in  existence  is  in  the 
State  Paper  office,  in  London,  where  it  has  been  examined  by  Rev. 
Joseph  B.  Felt.  The  first  newspaper  actually  established  in  the 
country  was  the  Boston  News-Letter,  commenced  April  24,  1704-,  by 
John  Campbell,  the  postmaster  of  that  toAvn. 

t  The  Town  House  Avas  a  Avooden  building  of  two  stories,  next  above 
the  First  Church,  on  the  spot  between  the  present  church  and  the 
parapet  of  the  railroad  tunnel.  It  was  where  the  town  meetings  were 
usually  held,  (in  the  lower  story)  and  was  also  occupied,  in  the  second 
story,  as  a  Court  house.  It  was  afterwards  called  the  State  House,  as 
the  Provincial  Assembly  of  Massachusetts  convened  therein  in  1774, 
with  John  Hancock  as  president.  It  was  a  building  of  humble  jireten- 
sions,  its  chief  claim  to  notice  arising  from  the  circumstance  that  it  A\'as 
a  fainted  building,  which  was  an  uncommon  distinction  in  those  days. 
In  front  of  the  building,  extending  on  either  side  the  door,  Avas  a 
wooden  bench,  where  the  elderly  men  of  the  town  were  accustomed  to 
assemble  to  gossip  and  converse  on  iiublic  and  private  matters. 


1.  Mr.  Hall  soon  resolved  to  commence  a  paper  here,  and  in 
July  of  the  same  year  issued  proposals  for  publishing  one  to  be 
entitled  The  Essex  Gazette,  to  be  issued  weeklj,  on  Tuesday, 
at  Gs.  8d.,  per  annum.  The  prospectus  was  full  and  explicit  in 
regard  to  the  character  of  the  proposed  paper ;  and  as  indicating 
the  spirit  in  which  the  enterprise  was  started,  we  quote  the 
follo^Ying  passage  : 

"  I  shall  exert  myself  to  ol)tain  as  general  and  fresh  a  Collection  of 
News  as  will  lay  in  my  Power,  both  Foreign  and  Domestic,  and  insert 
it  \yith  accuracy  and  in  due  order  ;  and  I  shall  at  all  times  assiduously 
endeavor  to  procure  and  carefully  publish,  as  I  may  have  room,  any 
Compositions  that  may  have  a  tendency  to  promote  Religion,  Virtue, 
Industry,  good  Order,  a  due  sense  of  the  Rights  and  Liberties  of  our 
Country,  with  the  Importance  of  true  and  genuine  principles  of  patriot- 
ism, and  whatever  may  servo  to  enliven  and  animate  us  in  our  known 
Loyalty  and  Affection  to  our  gracious  Sovereign.  In  short,  any  Pieces 
that  may  be  productive  of  Public  Good,  or  contribute  to  the  innocent 
Amusement  and  Entertainment  of  my  Readers,  will  be  inserted  with 
Pleasure  ;  and  any  writings  of  a  Contrary  Nature,  will,  if  offered  for 
Insertion,  be  instantly  rejected." 

These  comprehensive,  patriotic,  and  emphatic  statements  of 
his  intentions,  with  more  of  a  similar  character,  constituted 
Mr.  Hall's  introduction  to  his  readers.  And  all  that  he  here 
promised  he  thoroughly  performed,  for  he  was  prompt  and  faith- 
ful in  the  execution  of  all  his  contracts,  devoting  himself  with 
great  energy  and  spirit  to  the  discharge  of  his  duties. 

The  first  number  of  the  paper  appeared  Aug.  2,  1768,  and 
was  a  very  creditable  publication  in  its  typographical  execution, 
and  the  general  character  of  its  contents.  It  Avas  printed  upon 
a  crown  sheet,  folio,  10  ><  16  inches,  three  columns  to  the  page. 
This  diminutive  sheet,  less  than  half  the  size  of  the  Gazette 
of  to-day,  was  spoken  of  in  the  prospectus  as  "four  large 
pages,  printed  in  folio."'  It  was  doubtless  considered  as  large  at 
that  time.  The  head  was  adorned  by  a  rude  wood  cut,  com- 
prising the  figures  of  two  Indians,  with  a  codfish  overhead,  and 
a  dove  with  a  sprig  in  its  bill  in  the  centre.  This  device  bears 
some  resemblance  to  the  Essex  County  seal,  and  was  probably 
intended  to  be  emblematical  of  peace,  the  fisheries,  and  suc- 
cessful emigration.*  The  head-line  assured  the  reader,  in  the 
common  phraseology  of  that  day,  that  the  sheet  contained  '  ■  the 


'A  portion  of  this  device  iscontainod  in  the  seal  of  the  city  of  Salem. 


6 

freshest  advices,  both  foreign  and  domestic."  It  bore  as  a 
motto  a  quotation  from  Horace.  "  Omne  tulit  punctum  qui  mis- 
cuit  utile  dulci."' 

The  contents  of  the  paper  were  such  as  "were  looked  for  in 
public  prints  at  that  time,  chiefly  items  of  political  news  from 
various  parts  of  the  world,  very  concisely  stated,  and  selected 
with  care  and  good  judgment.  Foreign  news  occupied  a  large 
share  of  the  columns.  Domestic  news  was  given  simply, 
under  the  names  of  the  several  towns  in  the  colonies,  whence "^it 
was  received.  A  few  advertisements  filled  out  the  sheet.  The 
contents  were  mostly  selected,  but  few  original  pieces,  either 
editorial  or  contributed,  appearing  in  the  columns  in  those  days. 
The  public  did  not  estimate  so  highly  at  that  time  as  they 
seem  to  now,  the  off-hand  remarks,  speculations,  and  effusions 
generally,  of  editors  and  their  correspondents.* 

Mr.  Hall  was  eminently  qualified  for  the  task  he  had  under- 
taken. He  possessed  business  talents,  enterprise,  ability,  edito- 
rial tact  and  judgment,  and  withal  sympathized  entirely  with 
the  state  of  the  public  mind  at  that  time  with  respect  to  the 
mother  country.  He  had  commenced  his  paper  at  an  important 
season.  The  causes  were  then  actively  at  work  which  soon 
eventuated  in  the  Revolution.  A  spirit  of  independence  was 
growing  up  in  the  breasts  of  the  people,  and  the  principles  of 
civil  and  political  liberty  were  undergoing  a  thorough  discus- 
sion. With  this  condition  of  popular  feeling  Mr.  Hall  sympa- 
thized warmly  and  earnestly. 

Subscribers  to  his  Gazette  were  obtained,  not  only  in  this 
town,  but  also  doubtless  in  most  of  the  principal  places  in  the 
colony;  for  a  newspaper  at  that  period  was  a  much  more  impor- 
tant fact  than  at  the  present  day,  when  such  publications  abound 
in  all  directions.  There  were  then  but  five  papers  in  the  state, 
all  of  which  were  in  Boston. f     There  was  none  at  the  east- 


*  Among  the  contributors  to  Mr.  Hall's  paper,  was  Col.  Timothy  Pick- 
ering jr.  He  published  a  series  of  able  and  elaborate  articles  upon  the 
importance  of  a  reorganization  of  the  Militia,  which  had  great  influ- 
ence in  arousing  attention  to  the  subject,  and  which  suggested  complete 
plans  for  increasing  the  efBeiencj  of  that  branch  of  the  public  service. 
His  father,  Dea.  Timothy  Pickering,  also  frequently  communicated  with 
Mr.  Hall's  readers,  usually  to  rebuke  some  growing  evil  in  the  commu- 
nity, or  to  encourage  some  good  work. 

t  The  News-Letter,  Evening  Post,  Gazette,  Chronicle,  and  Advertiser, 


^vard,  except  at  Portsmouth.  Mr.  IlalFs  eastern  sul)scribers 
Avere  supplied  by  a  post-rider,  -who  left  the  oifiee  on  publication 
mornings  for  the  towns  between  here  and  Newburyport,  deposit- 
ing the  papers  on  the  way.*  To  obtain  the  most  recent  news 
from  Boston  he  incurred  the  expense  of  a  special  messenger 
from  that  town,  on  the  previous  day,  who  brought  the  latest 
papers.  The  news  from  Ncav  York  was  a  week  old,  from  Phil- 
adelphia a  fortnight,  and  from  London  two  m.onths. 

In  1772,  Mr.  Hall  admitted  his  younger  brother,  Ebenezer, 
into  partnership  with  him.  Their  business  connection  continued 
until  the  death  of  Ebenezer,  in  Cambridge,  Peb.  1776,  aged  27. 

The  Essex  Gazette  was  published  here  nearly  seven  jcais,  a 
period  which  embraced  the  most  important  events  that  imme- 
diately preceded  the  Revolution.  All  the  great  questions 
which  agitated  the  colonies  during  that  time  were  discussed  in 
its  columns.  The  odious  taxes  imposed  by  the  king — the  non- 
importation agreements^- the  Boston  Massacre — the  Boston 
Port  Bill — the  Tea  troubles — the  doings  of  the  people  in  their 
town  meetings,  and  other  primary  assemblies — the  popular 
hatred  of  the  officers  of  the  crown,  and  other  similar  topics, 
were  laid  before  Mr.  Hall's  readers  in  the  succession  of  their 
occurrence. 

In  October,  1770,  an  attempt  was  m.ode  to  injure  the 
subscription 'of  the  paper,  on  account  of  an  alleged  partiality  in 
its  columns  tOAvards  the  non-importation  agreements.  But  the 
effort  was  unsuccessful,  and  seems  to  have  resulted  in  the 
increase  rather  than  diminution  of  the  list.  The  number  of 
subscribers  at  this  time  was  about  seven  hundred. 

As  indicative  of  the  spirit  of  the  paper,  we  may  quote  an 
article  which  appeared  March  6,  1771.  This  was  the  anniver- 
sary of  the  Massacre  in  State  street,  Boston.  The  columns  on 
this  occasion   were  draped   in  black.     On  the   first  page  was  a 


*  Among  the  most  active  distributors  of  Mr.  Hall's  print  was  Thomas 
Diman.  This  person's  name  is  often  mentioned  by  our  oldest  citizens 
when  the  topic  of  ancient  carriers  is  introduced.  He  set  out  every 
Tuesday,  at  eight  o'clock,  for  the-towns  on  the  Eastern  route  as  far  as 
Newburyport,  dispensing  his  news  to  eager  inquirers  all  along  his  way. 
They  looked  upon  him  as  an  important  personage  in  the  service  of 
gratifying  their  curiosity.  His  employment  wore  off  the  corners  of 
his  self-diffidence,  and  rendered  him  not  at  all  bashful  among  "  the  head 
men,"  to  whose  pleasure  he  so  much  contributed.  Felt's  Annals, 
o 


raouvning  tablet,  suvroundcJ  by  lieavj  black  lines,  iipon  -which 
was  inscribed  the  following  animated  declaration  : 

As  A   Solemn  and   Perpetual  MEMORIAL  : 

Of  the  Tyranny  of  the  British  Administration  of  Government   in   the 

years  1708,  1769,  and  1770  : 
Of  the  fatal  and  destructive  Consequences  of  quartering  Armies,  in  Time 

of  I'eace,  in  populous  cities  : 
Of  the  ridiculous  Policy,  and  infamous  Absurdity,  of  supporting    Civil 

Government  by  a  Military  Force : 
Of  the  great  Duty  and  Necessity  of  firmly  opposing  Desjiotism   at   its 

first  Approaches  : 

Of  the  detestable  Principles  and  arbitrary  Conduct  of  those  Ministers 
in  Britain  who  advised,  and  of  their  Tools  in  America  who  desired, 
the  Introduction  of  a  Standing  Army  in  this  Province  in  the  Year  170S; 

Of  the  irrcfragible  Proof  which  those  Ministers  themselves  thereby 
produced,  that  the  Civil  Government,  as  by  them  administered,  was 
weak,  wicked  and  tyrannical: 

Of  the  vile  Ingratitude  and  abominable  Wickedness  of  every  American, 
who  abetted  and  encouraged,  either  in  Thought,  Word,  or  Deed,  the 
establishment  of  a  Standing  Army  among  his  Countrymen  : 

Of  the  unaccountable  Conduct  of  those  Civil  Governors,  the  immediate 
llepresentatives  of  his  Majesty,  who,  while  the  Military  were 
triumphantly  insulting  the  whole  Legislative  Autiioritv  of  the  State, 
and  while  the  blood  of  the  massacred  Inhabitants  was  flowing  in  the 
Streets,  persisted  in  repeatedly  disclaiming  all  Authority  of  relieving 
the  People,  by  any  the  least  Kemoval  of  the  Troops  ; 

And  of  the  savage  Cruelty  of  the  IMMEDIATE  PERPETRATORS, 

Be   it  forever   Remembered, 

That  this  Day,   THE  FIFTH  OF  MARCH,  is  the  Anniversary  of 

PRESTON'S  MASSACRE  —  IN  KING  STREET  —  BOSTON  —  NEW 

ENGLAND  —  1770. 

In  which  Five  of  his  Majesty's  Subjects  were  slain  and  six  wounded, 

By  the  Discharge  of  a  Number  of  Muskets  from  a  Party   of  Soldiers 

under  the  Command  of  Capt.  Thomas  Preston. 

GOD  Save  the  People  ! 

Salem,  March  5,  1771. 

In  May,  1775,  soon  after  the  Concord  fight — a  full  account 
of  which,  as  well  as  of  Leslie's  iavasion,  etc.,  had  appeared  in 
the  Gazette — Mr.  Hall  transferred  the  publication  of  his 
paper  from  Salem  to  Cambridge,  for  political  purposes.  The 
last  number  issued  here  was  dated  May  2,  and  the  next 
number,  in  Cambridge,  May  12.     The  office  was  in  a  building 


9 

of  the  College,  Stoughton  Hall.  The  title  was  then  enkrged 
to  "  The  New  England  Chronicle  or  Essex  Gazette."  This 
removal  was  made  "at  the  Desire  of  many  respectable  Gentle- 
men of  the  Honorable  Provincial  Congress" — with  whom  Mr. 
Hall  was  in  high  favor.  The  paper  was  continued  in  Cambridge 
until  the  Evacuation  of  Boston  by  the  British,  when  it  was 
removed  thither,  and  at  the  same  time  the  title  of  "Essex 
Gazette"  was  dropped. 

Before  Messrs.  Hall  left  Salem,  their  printing  office  was 
burnt  out  by  the  great  fire  of  October,  1774,  which  destroyed  a 
meeting  house,  custom  house,  eight  dwellings,  fourteen  stores, 
and  several  barns  and  out  buildings.*  The  office  was  subse- 
quently located  in  the  brick  building  recently  incorporated  into 
Dr.  Fisk's  brick  block  near  the  depot. 

2.  The  Salem  Gazette  and  Newbury  and  Newbury- 
PORT  Advertiser.  Before  Mr.  Hall  left  town  another  news- 
paper was  commenced,  Julyl,  1774,  with  the  foregoing  elabo- 
rate title.  It  was  published  by  Ezekiel  Russell,  from  Boston, 
an  unsuccessful  printer,  who  had  been  an  unsuccessful  auction- 
eer also.  His  antecedents  were  those  of  a  tory.  In  1771  he 
had  published  in  Boston  a  small  paper  called  "The  Censor," 
which  was  in  the  interest  of  the  loyal  party,  and  soon  expired. 
He  had  also  been  known  in  1773  as  the  printer  of  a  handbill 
entitled  "  The  Tradesmen's  Protest  against  the  proceedings  of 
the  Merchants  relative  to  the  new  Importation  of  Tea."  This 
handbill  excited  so  much  feeling  among  the  patriotic  merchants 
and  tradesmen,  that  at  a  large  town  meeting  in  Eaneuil  Hall  the 
printer  and  the  authors  of  it  were  pronounced  as  "  detestable," 
and  the  protest  itself  as  "false,  scandalous  and  base."  Mr.  Rus- 
sell's office  in  Salem  Avas  "in  Ruck  street,  near  the  State  Housef" 
— somewhere  on  Washington  street,  near  the  depot,  we  presume. 
The  headline  ofthe  paper  announced  that  it  was  "A  Weekly,  Po- 
litical, Commercial  and  Entertaining  Paper — Influenced  neither 
by  Court  or  Country."  But  the  country  decided  that  it  was  in- 
fluenced by  the  Court.  The  editor  was  suspected  of  a  bias  in 
favor  of  the  British,  probably  on  account  of  his  previous  course 
in  Boston,  and  the  paper  accordingly  terminated  in  a  few 
months  an  unpopular  career. 


*Thc  meeting  house  destroyed  was  Rev.  Dr.  Whitaker's,  which  stood 
on  King  street,  where  Dr.  Treadwell's  building  now  is.  The  Custom 
House  was  just  above.        flSce  Note  on  page  4. 


10 

3.  The  American  Gazette,  or  the  ConstuutioiVal 
Journal.  This  was  the  title  of  another  paper  by  Mr.  Russell, 
the  author  of  the  previous  one  ;  and  like  that  it  failed  to  com- 
mand public  confidence  and  support.  It  was  published  during 
the  Revolution,  commencing  June  19,  1776,  and  closing  in  a 
few  weeks.  It  was  nominally  published  by  John  Rogers,  at 
Mr.  Russell's  office ;  but  as  Rogers  was  merely  Russell's 
journeyman,  and  owned  neither  press  nor  types,  the  latter  was 
doubtless  the  true  proprietor.  The  printing  office  at  this  time 
was  near  the  upper  end  of  Main  street.  The  paper  was  pub- 
lished weekly,  on  Tuesday,  at  8s.  a  year.  The  device  at  the 
head  of  the  paper,  coarsely  cut  in  wood,  was  that  of  an  open 
journal,  supported  by  two  figures,  one,  that  of  fame  with  her 
trumpet,  and  the  other,  an  Indian  with  his  bows  and  arrows. 
Beneath  the  volume  was  a  ship  under  sail. 

Some  time  after  the  suspension  of  this  paper,  Mr.  Russell 
removed  to  Danvers,  and  printed  for  a  few  years  near  the  Bell 
Tavern,  and  then  returned  to  Boston.  There  he  continued  the 
printing  business,  in  a  small  way,  until  his  death  in  1796,  at 
the  age  of  52. 

Mr.  Russell  seems  to  have  experienced  through  life  a  con- 
stant succession  of  the  reverses  of  fortune.  Besides  the  fruit- 
less effijrts  we  have  mentioned,  he  had  been  a  publisher  of  the 
Portsmouth  Mercury,  in  company  with  Thomas  Furber,  and 
that  paper  continued  but  three  years.  It  is  said  that  Mr.  Rus- 
sell's wife  was  the  "better  half"  of  his  family,  assisting  as  a 
practical  printer  in  his  office,  composing  popular  ballads  for 
publication,  and  assuming  the  business  upon  his  death. 

4.  The  Salem  Gazette  and  General  Advertiser. 
For  nearly  five  years  during  the  Revolution  there  was  no  paper 
in  Salem.  But  in  1780,  Mrs.  Mary  Crouch,  widow  of  a  prin- 
ter in  Charleston,  S.  C,  removed  hither  with  her  press  and 
types,  and  Dec.  6,  1780,  issued  a  prospectus,  in  the  name  of 
''Mary  Crouch  and  company,"  for  the  publication  of  "the 
Salem  Gazette  and  General  Advertiser."  For  this  purpose 
they  announced  ' '  an  elegant  assortment  of  type  and  printing 
materials,"  and  stated  their  purpose  to  relate  such  matters  as 
should  refer  "  to  the  safety  and  welfare  of  the  United  States, 
to  the  Liberties  and  Independence  of  which  the  Salem  Gazette 
will  be  ever  sacredly  devoted."  The  first  number  of  the  paper 
was  dated  Jan'y  2,  1781.  It  was  of  the  crow^n  size,  issued 
weekly  at  50  cts.  a  quarter.  The  paper  was  more  miscella- 
neous   than   its  predecessors   had    been.     It  commenced  the 


11 

publication   of  stories,   tales,    and   other  entertaining  articles. 

Mrs.  Crouch  exhibited  spirit  and  enterprize,  but  was  unable 
to  succeed  with  the  paper,  which  lasted  only  nine  months,  clos- 
ing Oct.  11  of  the  same  year.  She  assigned  as  reasons  for  the 
stoppage,  "the  want  of  sufficient  assistance,  and  the  impossibility 
of  obtaining  house  room  for  herself  and  family  to  reside  near 
her  business."  Her  printing  office  was  at  the  corner  of  Derby 
and  Hardy  sts.  Mrs.  Couch  afterwards  removed  to  Providence, 
her  native  place. 

5.  The  Salem  Gazette.  In  just  a  week  after  the  close 
of  INIrs.  Crouch's  paper,  Samuel  Hall  again  entered  upon  a 
career  as  publisher  in  Salem.  He  had  returned  from  Boston, 
and  probably  bought  Mrs.  Crouch's  materials.  He  commenced 
a  new  paper  entitled  "  The  Salem  Gazette,''  the  first  number 
of  which  was  dated  Oct.  18,  1781.  It  was  of  the  size  and 
general  character  of  his  previous  paper.  He  continued  the  pub- 
lication of  this  series  of  Gazettes  for  a  little  more  than  four 
years,  enlarging  the  sheet  in  the  third  volume,  and  bringing  it 
to  a  close  in  this  town,  Nov.  22,  1785.  At  that  time  he  removed 
the  paper  to  Boston. 

In  finally  terminating  his  connection  with  Salem,  Mr.  Hall 
stated  that  he  did  so  only  under  the  pressure  of  stern  necessity. 
His  business  had  been  materially  injured  by  a  Tax  upon  Ad- 
vertisements, which  had  been  imposed  by  the  Legislature  the 
previous  summer.  This  tax,  in  conjunction  with  the  decline  of 
trade,  had  operated  so  disastrously  as  to  deprive  him  of  nearly 
three-quarters  of  the  income  of  his  paper  from  that  source,  and 
on  this  account  he  accepted  the  advice  of  friends,  who  re- 
commended his  removal  to  Boston.  The  contracted  circulation 
of  the  paper,  and  the  great  expense  attending  its  publication  in 
Salem,  he  said,  rendered  a  burdensome  tax  upon  his  advertising 
columns  insupportable.  The  expense  of  procuring  intelligence 
from  Boston  alone,  by  special  messenger,  Avas  so  great,  that  to 
defray  it  he  would  gladly  have  given  more  than  half  the  profits 
of  all  the  newspapers  circulated  in  this  town. 

The  tax  on  advertisements,  of  which  Mr.  Hall  complained  so 
bitterly,  was  voted  by  the  legislature,  July  2,  1785,  and  had 
elicited  an  outcry  of  indignation  from  nearly  all  the  papers  in 
the  states.  It  was  imposed  to  aid  in  liquidating  the  war  debt 
incurred  during  the  Revolution.  It  required  the  payment  of 
six  pence  on  each  advertisement  of  12  lines  or  less,  and  one 
shilling  on  those  of  20  or  less,  and  so  on  in  proportion.  This 
act  was  denounced  in  severe  terms  as  an  infringement  of  the 


12 

liberty  of  the  press,  as  the  "  Bostonian  Stamp  x\ct,"  &c. 
When  the  law  went  into  operation,  Mr.  Hall  spoke  of  it  in  the 
Gazette  as  follows : 

•'  No  printer  can  now  advertise,  even  in  his  own  paper,  any  books  or 
pieces  of  picly  or  devotion,  not  excepting  the  Holy  Bible,  without  pay- 
ing a  heavy  tax  for  it.  How  this  accords  with  His  Excellency's  late 
'  Proclamation  for  the  encouragement  of  Pie/y,  Virtue,  Education,  and 
Manners,'  let  the  framers  of  the  act  determine.;  Were  it  not  for  the  tax 
upon  advertising  good  hooks,  the  Printer  hereof  would  inform  the  Pub- 
lic, that  he  has  just  published  'Extracts  from  Dr.  Priestley's  Catechism' 
which  he  sells  at  five  coppers  single,  and  two  shillings  the  dozen." 

In  leaving,  Mr.  Hall  said  he  should  always  retain  the  most 
grateful  recollection  of  favors  received  in  this  place,  and  should 
"always  endeavor  to  promote  the  interests  and  reputation  of 
the  town  of  Salem." 

The  removal  to  Boston  was  executed  with  characteristic 
promptness,  so  that  not  a  single  issue  of  the  paper  was  omitted, 
the  next  number,  under  the  new  name  of  "  The  Massachusetts 
Gazette,"  appearing  as  a  continuation  on  the  regular  day.  Nov. 
28.  Mr.  Hall  made  arrangements  to  supply  his  Salem  subscrib- 
ers as  usual,  by  a  carrier.  He  subsequently  sold  the  Gazette 
to  other  parties.  He  afterwards  printed  a  paper  for  a  short 
time  in  the  French  language,  entitled  "  Courier  de  Boston," — 
the  first  paper  in  that  language  in  New  England.  In  1789  he 
opened  a  book  store  in  Cornhill,  which  he  sold  in  1805  to  Lin- 
coln and  Edmands,  of  which  firm  Gould  and  Lincoln  are  the 
present  successors. 

Mr.  Hall,  as  Ave  have  stated,  was  born  in  Medford,  Nov.  2, 
1740,  of  Jonathan  Hall  and  Anna  Fowle.  He  died  Oct.  80, 
1807,  aged  67  years.  He  was  an  industrious,  accurate,  and 
enterprising  printer,  a  judicious  editor,  and  excellent  man. 
His  life  was  one  of  active  usefulness  and  of  remarkable  suc- 
cess. Besides  his  newspaper  publications,  he  was  the  printer 
and  publisher  of  many  works,  of  various  degrees  of  importance, 
some  of  them  of  considerable  value.  The  list  of  his  publica- 
tions during  his  residence  in  Salem,  and  subsequently  in  Bos- 
ton, would  reflect  great  credit  upon  him  as  a  man  of  business 
enterprise.  In  his  papers  he  advocated  liberal  opinions  with 
firmness  and  discretion,  and  always  commanded  the  confidence 
and  respect  of  the  best  men  in  the  community.  ''  The  coun- 
try," says  Mr.  Buckingham,  "  had  no  firmer  friend,  in  the 
gloomiest  period  of  its  history,  as  well  as  in  the  days  of  its 
young  and  increasing  prosperity,  than  Samuel  Hall." 


13 

G.  The  Salem  Chrontcle  and  Essex  Advertiser.  The 
short  interim  succeeding  JNIr.  Hall's  second  series,  was  followed, 
March  30,  1780,  by  the  commencement  of  a  weekly  paper, 
with  the  foregoing  title,  by  George  Roulstonc.  It  continued 
less  than  a  year,  and  possessed  no  special  interest.  It  was 
printed  on  Paved  St.,  on  a  crown  sheet,  at  9  shillings. 

7.  The  Salem  Gazette.  The  present  Salem  Gazette 
was  commenced  Oct.  14,  1786,  when  John  Dabney  and  Thomas 
C.  Gushing  issued  the  first  number  of  "  The  Salem  Mercury," 
which  in  1790,  Jan.  5,  assumed  the  name  of  "  The  Salem 
Gazette,"  and  has  so  continued  ever  since.  Mr.  Gushing  was  a 
native  of  Hingham.  He  had  served  his  apprenticeship  with 
Mr,  Hall,  and  had  afterwards,  in  1785,  been  connected  with 
John  W.  Allen,  in  the  publication  of  the  American  Recor- 
der and  Charlestown  Advertiser,  in  Cliarlcstown.  He  was  22 
years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Salem,  and  from  his  intercourse 
with  so  excellent  a  master  as  Mr.  Hall,  had  doubtless  been 
strengthened  in  the  liberal  principles  and  correct  habits  Avhich 
he  brought  to  his  new  undertaking. 

The  Mercury  was  printed  weekly,  on  Tuesday,  on  a  demy 
sheet,  four  columns  to  a  page,  and  chiefly  on  long  primer  type. 
The  price  was  9  shillings  a  year.  The  contents  of  the  paper 
gave  evidence  of  care  in  the  selection,  and  the  original  commu- 
nications were  from  competent  writers.  Party  lines  had  not 
been  drawn  at  that  early  period,  and  the  political  character  of 
the  paper  was  simply  that  of  an  ardent  advocate  of  the  new 
federal  constitution,  the  adoption  of  which,  in  our  own  state,  and 
in  other  states,  successively,  was  recorded  in  terms  of  exulta- 
tion. 

Mr.  Dabney  withdrew  from  the  paper  at  the  close  of  the 
third  volume,  Oct.  6,  1789,  and  opened  a  book-store,  leaving 
Mr.  Gushing  sole  proprietor  of  the  business.  He  continued 
thus  until  Oct.  14,  1794,  a  period  of  five  years,  and  then 
transferred  the  publication  to  Wm.  Garlton,  his  partner  in  the 
Bible  and  Heart  Book-store.*     In   making  the  change  Mr. 


_  *  The  Bible  and  Heart  book-store  was  in  the  lower  story  of  the  build- 
ing occupied  by  the  printing  ofl5ce,  the  same  which  is  now  kept  by  D.  B. 
Brooks  and  Brother.  There  were  formerly  wooden  figures  of  a  bible 
and  a  heart  suspended  over  the  door,  which  during  the  last  war  were 
torn  down  in  the  night,  by  some  mischievous  persons,  and  thrown  into 
the  harbor.  It  was  upon  the  occasion  of  a  list  of  privateers,  in  our 
harbor,  being  published  in  the  Gazette  by  the  foreman  of  the  office. 


14 

Oushing  acknowledged,  "with  sensibility,  the  benefits  he  had  re- 
ceived,'"' during  the  time  that  he  had  been  sole  editor,  and  re- 
marked, that  "notwithstanding  the  disadvantages,  under  which 
it  had  been  published,  he  relinquished  it  with  an  increase,  double 
to  what  it  possessed  when  he  received  it."  He  observed  also 
that  '-many  thought  it  expedient  that  it  should  be  made  a 
semi-weekly  paper." 

Mr.  Carlton  announced  his  intention  to  continue  the  Gazette, 
as  it  had  been,  "  impartial,  independent,  and  uninfluenced,  but 
by  the  public  good — neither  devoting  it  to  the  cause  of  unfeeling 
Aristocracy,  or  employing  it  in  kindling  the  vindictive  rage  of 
Democracy,  or  lighting  the  destructive  torch  of  Anarchy."  Mr. 
Carlton  conducted  the  Gazette  nearly  three  years,  receiving 
the  assistance  of  Rev.  Dr.  Bentley,  who  lived  in  the  same  family 
with  him,  opposite  Union  street,  and  was  ever  his  efficient 
friend.  In  1796,  June  3,  he  undertook  the  experiment  of  is- 
suing the  paper  twice  a  Aveek,  on  Tuesday  and  Friday,  intro- 
ducing the  change  with  the  graceful  remark,  that  •' to  a  town 
whose  pojuilation  exceeds  8000  souls,  we  could  not  pay  so  poor 
a  compliment  as  to  continue  a  weekly  Gazette." 

The  traces  of  Dr.  Bentley's  pen  were  abundant  in  the  col- 
umns at  this  time.  His  series  of  "  summaries,"  afterwards  so 
famous  in  the  Register,  had  been  commenced  here,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  transmitting  to  his  friend  Prof.  Ebeling,  of  Hamburg, 
in  a  convenient  form,  materials  for  a  history  and  geography  of 
the  U.  S.  which  he  Avas  then  preparing.  These  summaries,  to- 
gether Avith  Mr.  Carlton's  exchange  papers,  Avere  regularly  sent 
to  the  Professor,  who  in  return  forAvarded  German  books  to  Dr. 
Bentley,  and  thus  a  fair  exchange  Avas  established,  Avhich  never 
involved  the  least  money  transaction.  The  ncAvspapers  and 
other  materials  thus  provided  by  Dr.  Bentley,  were  afterAvards,  in 
1818,  purchased,  in  connection  Avith  Prof.  Ebeling's  library,  by 
Israel  Thorndike,  of  Boston,  and  presented  to  HarA'ard  College. 

In  1797,  July  24,  the  business  connection  betAveen  Gushing 
and  Carlton  ceased,  the  Gazette  was  resumed  by  the  former, 
and  Carlton  and  Dr.  Bentley  Avithdrew.  It  is  presumed  that 
political  diiferences,  arising  out  of  the  increase  of  party  feeling, 
led  to  the  dissolution  of  the  partnership,  though  no  reason  Avas 
publicly  given.  The  Gazette  thenceforth  ceased  to  be  neutral, 
and  espoused  in  a  bold  and  decided  manner,  the  interests  and 
the  fortunes  of  the  Federal  party.  Mr.  Gushing  continued  as 
publisher  a  quarter  of  a  century,  ably  sustaining  the  cause  of 
his  party  during  the  fiery  trials  of  that  period. 


15 

The  excited  and  virulent  political  feeling  at  various  times 
between  1802  and  1815,  embracing  the  events  connected 
■svith  the  last  war  with  Great  Britain,  was  fully  exhibited  in 
the  columns  of  the  Gazette.  Although  Mr.  Gushing  was  him- 
self of  a  mild  and  peaceable  disposition,  he  allowed  a  pretty 
free  use  of  his  columns  by  writers  who  did  not  emulate  his  own 
virtues.  The  republican  party  were  assailed  in  violent  and  of- 
ten extremely  personal  language.  Sarcasm,  ridicule,  and 
severe  denunciation  were  freely  employed.  Nor  was  the  Reg- 
ister at  all  backward  in  returning  the  assault  in  a  similar  tone 
and  spirit.  This  mode  of  warfare  led  on  several  occasions  to 
serious  personal  difficulties. 

In  the  fall  of  1802  a  violent  contest  arose  between  the 
Federal  and  Republican  parties,  concerning  the  election  of  a 
member  of  Congress  from  this  district.  The  result  was  favorable 
to  the  republicans.  When  it  was  over,  in  November,  the 
editors  of  the  Register  and  Gazette  were  called  upon  to  answer 
for  the  tone  of  their  papers,  the  former  by  a  libel  suit,  and  the 
latter  by  threats  of  personal  violence.  Mr.  Gushing  was  visit- 
ed at  his  house  by  Capts.  Richard  and  Benj.  Growninshield  and 
Mr.  Joseph  Story,  and  taken  into  a  private  room,  where  he  was 
charged  Avith  malicious  publications,  of  a  purely  personal  and 
offensive  character,  against  the  complainants  and  their  friends, 
designed  to  injure  them  in  the  estimation  of  the  community. 
After  detailing  their  grievances  at  some  length,  Gapt.  Benj, 
Growninshield  threatened  to  shoot  Mr.  Gushing  if  he  continued 
to  publish  such  things  as  they  had  complained  of  Mr,  Gushing 
replied  that  it  had  been  his  endeavor  to  keep  his  paper  free 
from  undue  personalities,  though  he  considered  public  charac- 
ters and  public  conduct  as  proper  subjects  of  animadversion ; 
and  as  for  the  future  he  should  give  no  pledges,  but  should  be 
governed  by  his  regard  for  decency,  and  endeavor  to  give  no 
just  cause  of  offence.  The  conversation  became  so  loud  and 
boisterous  that  it  alarmed  the  females  of  Mr.  Gushing's  family, 
who  called  a  number  of  persons  into  an  adjoining  apartment, 
as  listeners ;  and  thus  the  whole  affair  became  a  matter  of  public 
notoriety.  The  excitement  which  ensued  was  so  great  that  Mr. 
Gushing  was  obliged  to  publish  a  full  account  of  the  interview. 

Party  politics  continued  to  rage  for  several  years  afterwards 
with  a  degree  of  violence  which  we  hope  may  never  again 
be  experienced. 

One  of  the  most  amusing  circumstances  connected  with  this 
period  was  that  of  the  Pictorial  Gerrymander,  The  democra- 
3 


16 

tic  legislature  of  1811  12  had  so  carved  and  cut  up  the  tcwns 
of  Essex  County  as  to  favor  the  election  of  a  democratic  member 
of  congress  from  Essex  South.  The  district  thus  formed  -was 
very  strange  in  its  outlines,  running  from  Salem  all  around  the 
line  of  back  towns,  Lynn,  Andover,  Haverhill,  &c.,  and  ending 
at  Salisbury.  This  curious  arrangement  struck  the  eye  of  Gil- 
bert Stuart,  the  celebrated  Painter,  as  presenting  the  outlines  of 
a  natural  monster,  and  he  accordingly  took  his  pencil,  and  by 
affixing  claws  to  the  lower  extremities  at  Salem  and  Marble- 
head,  wings  to  the  back  at  Andover,  and  a  'horrid  beak'  at  Salis- 
bury, produced  the  figure  of  a  creature  which  he  said  would  do 
for  a  Salamander.  But  Major  Ben.  Russell  suggested  that  it 
might  more  properly  be  called  a  "Gerrymander,"'  in  allusion 
to  the  democratic  Governor  of  the  state.  It  ever  after  receiv- 
this  title.  An  engraving  of  the  monster  was  inserted  in  the  Ga- 
zette and  other  papers,  and  printed  upon  handbills,  as  an  election- 
eering document.  InlSlo,  Avhen  the  democrats  were  defeated, 
the  federalists  were  in  high  glee  over  the  "Gerrymander" 
which  had  been  so  useful  to  them,  and  on  the  morning  after  the 
election  in  April,  a  figure  of  the  skeleton  of  the  deceasedmon- 
ster  appeared  in  the  Gazette,  with  the  appropriate  epitaph, 
"  Hatched  1812— killed  1813."  This  device  was  executed  by 
Mr.  Appleton,  the  jocose  partner  of  Mr.  Gushing  in  his  book- 
store, who  cast  a  block  of  type-metal  and  engraved  the  figure 
during  the  night  previous  to  its  publication.  There  was  subse- 
quently published  a  picture  of  the  non-descript  in  its  coffin,  and 
a  fac- simile  of  the  grave  stone,  together  with  an  amusing  pro- 
gramme of  mock  ceremonials  at  its  funeral. 

Mr.  Gushing  relinquished  the  publication  of  the  Gazette 
Dec.  81,  1822,  on  account  of  infirm  health,  and  in  retiring 
from  a  post  he  had  so  long  occupied,  bade  adieu  to  his  friends 
in  a  graceful  note.  He  died  Sept.  28,  1824,  aged  60.  As  an 
editor  and  publisher,  as  well  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Gushing 
and  Appleton,  he  had  secured  a  host  of  friends,  who  remenibered 
him  as  "  the  amiable  and  gifted  Gushing."  His  qualities  of 
mind  and  heart  were  such  as  commanded  the  respect  and  esteem 
of  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  steadfast  and  conscientious  in 
his  political  opinions,  a  person  of  thorough  integrity  in  his 
business  aflairs,  gentle  and  pleasing  in  his  manners.  He  is 
described  as  having  had  strong  powers  of  mind,  warmth  of 
fancy,  various  and  extensive  knowledge,  and  a  familiar  acquain- 
tance with  the  best  of  English  literature,  which  gave  attraction 
and  fascination  to  his  conversation. 


17 

Among  the  writers  for  the  Gazette  during  Mr.  Cushing's 
connection  with  it,  was  the  late  Benj.  Merrill,  who  was  a  con- 
stant and  voluminous  contributor  to  its  columns,  and  whose 
writings  contributed  largely  to  its  success  and  influence  upon 
the  public  mind. 

The  next  publishers  of  the  paper  were  Caleb  Gushing,  a  son 
of  Thos.  C.,*  and  Ferdinand  Andrews,  who  commenced  at  the 
begining  of  1823.  Mr.  Gushing  withdrew  at  the  end  of  six 
months,  and  Mr.  Andrews  continued  sole  publisher  until  April 
1,  1825,  when  he  sold  half  of  the  establishment  to  Caleb 
Foote.  Mr.  Foote  had  served  his  apprenticeship  with  Mr.  T. 
G.  Gushing,  who  had  himself  been  an  apprentice  of  Mr.  Hall, 
and  thus  was  established  a  personal  connection  between  the  origi- 
nal Essex  Gazette  and  the  Salem  Gazette  of  to-day.  In  182G, 
Oct.  1,  the  other  half  of  the  Gazette  was  purchased  by  Wm. 
Brown,  of  Mr.  Andrews,  who  removed  to  Lancaster  and  es- 
tablished a  paper  in  that  town.  He  afterwards  returned  to 
Salem,  to  publish  the  Landmark,  and  is  now  a  proprietor  of  the 
Boston  Daily  Evening  Traveller. 

In  1833,  Jan.  1,  Mr.  Foote  became  sole  proprietor  of  the 
Gazette  and  has  so  continued  ever  since.  He  was  assisted  for 
some  time  by  John  B.  Ghisholm,  and  subsequently,  for  several 
years,  by  Wm.  Brown.  In  1854,  Jan.  1,  N.  A.  Horton  be- 
came assistant  publisher  and  editor  and  so  remains  at  the  pres- 
ent time. 

From  Jan.  1,  1847,  until  Oct.  3,  1851,  the  Gazette  was  is- 
sued tri-weekly,  on  Tuesday,  Friday,  and  Saturday.  At  the 
latter  date  the  Saturday  edition  was  discontinued  in  favor  of 
an  enlarged  semi- weekly.  Since  the  modern  division  of  par- 
ties, the  Gazette  has  been  a  zealous  and  efficient  advocate  of  the 
views  of  the  whig  party.  During  the  campaign  of  1855  it 
occupied  a  neutral  position. 

The  printing  office  previous  to  1792  was  somewhere  near  its 
present  location,  and  for  two  years  subsequent  to  that  time  in 
Stearns's  Building.  It  was  afterwards  removed  to  the  present 
neighborhood;  then  to  No.  8  Paved  street. f  From  1825  to 
1827,  it  occupied  the  rooms  now  improved  by  the  Register  of- 


*  Mr.  Gushing  brought  up  two  other  sons  as  printers,  one  of  whom, 
John  D.,  is  now  publisher  of  the  Berkshire  Courier,  an  excellent  paper, 
printed  in  Great  Barrington. 

1 1n  the  chamber  of  the  building  occupied  by  John  Perley's  shoe  store. 


18 

ticc.     It  was  removed  thence  to  Columbian   Hall,  Stearns  s 
Building;  and  finally,  Jan.  11,  1831,  to  its  present  quarters. 

8;  The  Salem  Register.  This  paper  was  commenced 
during  the  first  year  of  the  present  century,  May  12,  1800, 
when  the  first  number  was  issued  with  the  title  of  "  The  Im- 
jmrtial  Register."  It  was  published  on  Monday  and  Thurs- 
day, by  William  Carlton,  avIio  had  withdrawn  from  the 
Gazette, and  dissolved  his  partnership  in  the  book  business  with 
Thos.  C.  Gushing,  several  years  before,  as  we  have  already 
stated.  The  Register  started  in  opposition  to  the  Federal  party, 
and  during  the  violent  political  struggles  which  ensued,  was  an 
(ible  supporter  of  the  Republican  cause.  It  selected  for  its 
motto  the  following  lines  : 

"  All  partiea  here  may  plead  an  honest,  favorite  cause, 
Whoever  reasons  best  on  Katurc's,  Wisdom's  Laws, 
Proclaims  eternal  Tvuth— gains  Heaven's  and  Men's  applause." 

Dr.  Bentley  aided  Mr.  Carlton  in  his  new  publication,  as  he 
had  previously  done  in  the  Gazette,  and  his  famous  Summaries 
and  variety  of  miscellaneous  and  local  articles,  soon  gave  the 
paper  a  decided  character.  In  a  few  months,  Aug.  7,  the  title 
was  enlarged  to  "The  Sulem  Impartial  Register."  This  was 
continued  until  Jan.  4,  1802,  when  the  word  "  Impartial"  was 
dropped,  leaving  "  The  Salem  Register."  At  the  same  time 
the  original  motto  gave  place  to  the  well  known  verse  which  is 
still  printed  in  the  paper,  and  which  was  written  impromptu  by 
the  late  Judge  Story,  who  is  said  to  have  scribbled  it  in  pencil 
on  the  side  of  a  printer's  case : 

"  Here  shall  the  Press  the  People's  Rights  maintain, 
Unavred  by  Influence,  and  unbribed  by  Gain; 
Here  Patriot  Truth  lier  glorious  precej^ts  draw, 
Pledged  to  Pieligion,  Liberty,  and  Law." 

During  the  autumn  of  this  year  (1802)  the  editor,  Mr. 
Carlton,  was  convicted  of  a  libel  on  Timothy  Pickering,  and 
suffered  imprisonment  therefor.  This  occurred  just  after  the 
election  of  a  member  of  Congress  for  this  district,  when  Jacob 
Crowninshield,  the  democratic  candidate,  was  chosen  over  Mr. 
Pickering,  who  was  the  federal  candidate.  The  Register  had 
asserted  that  "  Robert  Listen,  the  British  Ambassador,  distri- 
buted five  hundred  thousand  (JoHars  amongst  the  partizans  of 
the  English  nation  in  America,"  and  intimated  that  Mr.  Pick- 
ering might  have  partaken  of  "  these  secret  largesses,"  "  some 


19 

little  token,  some  small  gratuity,  for  all  his  zealous  eftbrts 
against  liberty  and  her  sons,  for  all  his  attachment  to  the  in- 
terests of  England,''  at  the  same  time  indulging  in  contemptu- 
ous flings  towards  the  distinguished  ex-Secretary  of  State.  To 
answer  for  this  article  Mr.  Carlton  was  indicted  by  the  grand 
jury,  and  tried  before  the  Supreme  Court,  at  Ipswich,  in 
April,  1803.  He  was  convicted,  and  sentenced  to  pay  a  fine 
of  $100,  and  the  costs  of  prosecution;  to  be  imprisoned  in  the 
county  jail  two  months ;  and  to  give  bonds  Avith  two  sureties  in 
$400  each,  to  keep  the  peace  for  two  years.  This  unfortunate 
affair  is  simply  illustrative  of  the  acerbity  of  party  feeling  at 
that  time. 

In  a  little  more  than  two  years  after  this  imprisonment,  Mr. 
Carlton  died,  July  24,  1805,  aged  34.  He  had  sufiered  from 
fever  during  his  imprisonment,  as  stated  by  Dr.  Bentley,  and 
continued  feeble  until  the  day  before  his  decease,  when  he  was 
suddenly  seized  by  violent  fever  and  derangement,  which  ter- 
minated his  life  in  twenty-four  hours.  Mr.  Carlton  was  a 
native  of  Salem,  and  descended  from  two  of  the  ancient  families 
of  the  country.  His  constant  friend  said  of  him  : — "  He 
always  possessed  great  cheerfulness  of  temper  and  great 
benevolence  of  mind.  He  was  distinguished  by  his  perseverance, 
integrity,  and  uprightness.  To  his  generous  zeal  the  public 
were  indebted  for  the  early  information  which  the  Register  gave 
of  the  most  interesting  occurrences.  To  a  tender  mother  he 
was  faithful,  and  to  his  family  aftectionate.  The  friends  of  his 
youth  enjoyed  the  warmth  of  his  gratitude.  His  professions 
and  friendships  were  sincere.  He  was  an  able  editor  and 
an  honest  man."' 

Previous  to  the  death  of  Mr.  Carlton,  the  printing  office  was 
removed  (Jan.  3,  1803,)  from  its  original  location  in  the  house 
on  Essex  st.,  next  below  the  Franklin  building,  to  a  room  over 
the  post  office,  where  Bowker's  building  now  stands.  At  the 
same  time  a  new  head-piece  was  mounted,  a  figure  of  liberty, 
with  the  motto,  "  where  liberty  is  there  is  my  country." 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Carlton,  the  Register  was  published 
for  his  widow,  Elizabeth,  until  the  26th  of  August  ensuing, 
when  she  died  also.  It  was  then  continued  "for  the  proprie- 
tors,"— Dr.  Bentley  and  Warwick  Palfray  jr.,  contributing  to 
its  columns  for  nearly  two  years.  In  August,  1806,  an  adver- 
teement  appeared,  stating  that  "The  Salem  Register  having 
been  supported  in  its  editorial  department  by  the  voluntary  as- 
sistance of  its  friends  since  the  decease  of  the  late  editor,  Mr. 


20 

Carlton,  tlic  proprietors  arc  desirous  of  obtaining  an  editor  to 
conduct  the  same  in  future.''  No  new  arrangement  was  com- 
menced however  until  July  23,  180T,  when  a  '-new  series," 
entitled  "  The  Essex  Register,"  was  commenced  by  Haven 
Pool  and  Warwick  Pal  fray  jr.,  assisted  by  S-  Cleveland  Blydon. 
At  this  time  the  famous  motto-verse  was  dropped,  and  the 
following  sentence  adopted  as  a  substitute  : — ' '  Let  the  greatest 
good  of  the  greatest  number  be  the  pole-star  of  your  public  and 
private  deliberations."  [Ramsay].  Mr.  Blydon' s  name  re- 
mained in  the  paper  only  about  six  months,  when,  Jan.  6, 
1808,  it  was  withdrawn.  The  publication  days  were  then 
changed  to  Wednesday  and  Saturday,  "  for  various  reasons, 
some  of  a  public  and  some  of  a  private  nature."  The  favorite 
motto  was  again  resumed. 

On  June  28,  1811,  Mr.  Pool,  the  eldest  proprietor,  although 
only  39,  suddenly  died,  after  a  short  illness,  leaving  Mr. 
Palfray  the  sole  editor  and  publisher  for  the  next  twenty-three 
years.  Mr.  Pool  was  described  in  an  obituary  notice  as  "an 
affectionate  husband,  kind  parent,  and  dutiful  son.  He  was  of 
a  cheerful  disposition,  constant  and  ardent  in  his  friendships, 
and  excessively  fond  in  his  domestic  attachments."  He  is  re- 
membered as  a  genial  and  gay  companion. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  year  1814  Mr.  Palfray  removed  the 
printing  office  to  the  building  on  Essex  street,  opposite  Union 
street,  now  a  carpenter's  shop  ;  and  again  in  1820  it  Avas  re- 
moved to  the  second  building  above,  now  a  painter's  shop,  and 
next  to  the  original  location.  So  that  it  occupied  successively 
three  of  the  buildings  next  below  Franklin  Place.  In  1828, 
April  28,  it  was  transferred  to  Stearns's  Building,  and  in  1832, 
Oct.  5,  it  Avas  finally  removed  to  Central  Building,  where  it 
now  remains. 

In  1823,  Feb.  1,  the  old  publication  days,  Monday  and 
Thursday,  were  resumed.  In  1835,  Jan.  1,  John  Chapman, 
who  had  entered  the  office  as  an  apprentice  in  1807,  was  ad- 
mitted as  partner  in  the  business. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Palfray,  who  had  been  identified  with  the 
Register  as  Mr.  Cushing  had  been  with  the  Gazette,  occurred 
August  23,  ]  838,  at  the  age  of  51.  He  was  a  native  of  Salem, 
a  descendant  of  Peter  Palfray,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  this 
place — having  arrived  here  several  years  before  Gov.  Endicott. 
Mr.  Palfray  served  his  time  as  a  printer  with  Mr.  Carlton, 
whose  office  he  entered  in  1801.  He  assumed  a  share  in  the' 
.charge  of  the  Register  while  yet  a  minor,  and  his  tact  and  good 


21 

jmlgment,  thenceforth  exerted,  largely  increased  the  circula- 
tion of  the  paper,  and  gave  it  popularity  and  influence.  He 
was  the  sole  conductor  during  the  times  of  the  embargo  and 
the  Avar  with  England,  when  political  feeling  ran  very  high, 
and  was  much  embittered  by  personal  hostilities.  "Yet,  notwith- 
standing all  the  excitements  of  those  periods,"  said  his  eulogist, 
the  late  Jos.  E.  Sprague,  "  Mr.  Palfray  gave  as  little  just 
cause  of  oiFence  as  any  man  living  could.  Possessed  of  most 
generous  and  honorable  feelings,  he  never  willingly  gave  just 
cause  of  offence  to  a  political  opponent.  Personal  allusions 
were  always  painful  to  him — and  at  those  periods  of  deadly 
feud,  when  he  Avas  placed  at  the  editorial  desk,  it  was  his  great- 
est pleasure  to  take  from  the  papers'  handed  him  for  publication 
the  poisoned  arrows  :  and  when  he  could  not,  consistently  with 
political  duty,  wholly  remove  personal  allusions,  to  soften  them 
to  the  utmost  limit."  *  *  *  "  With  but  slight  advantages  of 
education  there  were  but  few  who  were  more  useful  to  society. 
His  heart  was  the  abode  of  pure  thoughts — his  life  the  exem- 
plar of  good  principles.  The  tongue  of  calumny,  in  the  times 
of  bitterest  political  animosities,  never  breathed  a  syllable 
against  the  spotless  purity  of  his  life  and  character." 

Though  Mr.  Palfray  never  sought  office,  he  held  several  pub- 
lic trusts.  He  was  a  member  of  the  city  government  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  and  vice  president  of  the  Mechanic  Associa- 
tion. He  had  served  with  usefulness  in  both  branches  of  the 
legislature. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Palfray,  the  paper  was  continued 
by  the  surviving  partner,  Mr.  Chapman, — the  family  of 
the  former  retaining  an  interest  in  the  publication.  On  Jan. 
1st,  1839,  Charles  W.  Palfray,  a  son  of  the  former  proprietor, 
and  a  graduate  of  Harvard  University,  assumed  the  place 
vacated  by  his  father.  In  1841,  Jan.  1,  the  earlier  name  of 
'•  The  Saiem  Register"  was  again  adopted. 

The  Register  during  the  more  than  half  century  of  its  exis- 
tence has  received  the  contributions  of  able  pens.  Dr.  Bentley, 
and  the  late  Sheriff  Sprague,  were  voluminous  and  influential 
writers  in  its  columns  for  a  great  many  years.  Judge  Story, 
during  his  residence  in  Salem,  was  a  frequent  contributor.  So 
was  Andrew  Dunlap  for  many  years  previous  to  1825.  The 
Summaries  of  Dr.  Bentley  have  become  famous.  These  con- 
cise and  curious  medleys  were  furnished  regularly  for  a  quarter 
of  a  century.  They  often  extended  to  a  column  and  a  half  of 
close  matter,  and  sometimes  to   several  columns.     They   were 


22i 

continued  until  the  very  close  of  liis  life,  the  last  Summary  ap- 
pearing in  the  Register  published  on  the  very  day  of  his  death, 
the  last  day  of  the  year  1819,  These  contributions  from  Dr. 
Bentley's  industrious  pen  were  thus  constantly  furnished  "with- 
out ever  a  dollar  being  received  by  him  as  compensation.  He 
labored  without  the  expectation  or  desire  of  reward. 

The  Register,  as  well  as  the  Gazette,  after  the  dissolution  of 
the  old  parties,  joined  the  ranks  of  the  modern  whig  party,  and 
gave  it  cordial  and  valuable  aid.  During  the  last  canvass  for 
Go\ernor,  it  favored  the  election  of  Rockwell,  the  republican 
candidate. 

9.  The  Weekly  Visitant.  In  1806,  daring  the  rage  of 
party  politics,  a  periodical  was  commenced,  by  Haven  Pool,  of 
a  purely  literary  character,  though  not  of  great  pretensions. 
It  was  an  octavo,  entitled  '■  The  Weekly  Visitant,"  published 
on  Saturday  evening  "  directly  west  of  the  Tower  of  Dr. 
Prince's  Church."  Price  $2  per  year.  It  seems  to  have 
been  designed  to  afford  its  patrons  more  agreeable  reading  than 
was  furnished  in  the  political  papers,  an  idea  Avhich  was  ex- 
pressed in  the  couplet  adopted  as  a  motto : 

"  Ours  are  the  plans  of  fair  deliglitful  peace, 
Un warped  by  party  rage,  to  live  like  brothers." 

10.  The  Friend.  The  Visitant  had  a  successor,  the 
next  year,  in  "The  Friend,"  started  by  Mr,  Pool,  in  connec- 
tion with  Stephen  C.  Blyth,  as  editor,  Jan.  3,  1807.  It  was 
published  weekly,  on  Saturday  evening,  of  the  common  news- 
paper form,  at  $2  per  year.  It  was  announced  as  a  "  new  and 
neutral  paper,"  and  was  therefore  spoken  of  as  "a  scheme 
novel  in  its  design;"  nevertheless  it  was  hoped  that  by  avoiding 
insipidity  it  might  be  made  interesting.  Like  its  predecessor, 
this  paper  indicated  a  desire  for  peace  in  the  community  by  se- 
lecting a  peaceful  motto,  from  Ecclesiasticus:  "  Sweet  language 
will  multiply  friends  ;  and  a  fair  speaking  tongue  will  increase 
kind  greetings."  The  Friend  lasted  about  six  months,  until 
July  18,  and  was  then  merged  in  the  Register,  with  which  the 
publisher  and  editor  also  formed  a  connection.  Mr.  Blyth  had 
changed  his  name  to  Blydon,  during  the  year,  by  consent  of 
the  General  Court.  He  was  a  native  of  Salem,  and  taught 
school  here.  He  afterwards  removed  to  Canada,  and  is  believed 
to  have  died  there. 

Humorous    Publicatioxs.     In  1807  and 


1808,  Mr.  John  S.  Appleton,  of  the  firm  of  Gushing  and  Apple- 
ton,  -who  was  known  as  a  ready  wit,  got  out  two  or  tlircc  small 
humorous  publications,  which  had  a  temporary  run  as  periodi- 
cals. One  of  these  was  "  The  Fool.  By  Thomas  Brainless, 
Esq.,  L.  L.  D.,  Jester  to  his  Majesty  the  Public.  A  new  and 
useless  paper,  of  no  particular  form  or  size,  issued  at  irregular 
intervals ;  and  the  price  to  be  left  at  the  generosity  of  the  pub- 
lic." This  was  issued  in  1807.  Then  there  was  "  the  Barber's 
Shop,  kept  by  Sir  David  Razor,"  published  by  Cushing  and 
Appleton.  in  1808,  and  printed  by  Joshua  Cushing,  a  brother 
of  Thomas  C.  Cushing.  Another  of  these  ephemeral  sheets, 
the  Punches  of  those  days,  Avas  "  Salmagundi,"  from  the  same 
source.  In  all  of  these  the  rcpviblican  party  was  the  object  of 
ridicule  and  satire. 

14.  The  Gospel  Visitant.  This  was  the  title  of  a 
quarterly  octavo  magazine,  commenced  in  Salem,  in  1811,  to 
espouse  the  doctrines  of  Universalism.  It  is  interesting  from 
the  circumstance  that  it  was  the  first  regular  periodical  issued 
by  that  denomination  in  this  country.  There  had  been  pre- 
viously an  occasional  publication  in  Boston,  entitled  ' '  The 
Berean,"  — containing  the  proceedings  of  an  association, — 
eight  numbers  of  which  were  printed,  at  irregular  intervals, 
without  regard  to  time  ;  but  the  Visitant  was  the  first  regular 
periodical.  It  was  started  at  the  suggestion  of  a  Conference 
of  Universalist  Ministers,  assembled  at  Gloucester  in  January 
of  that  year.  The  conductors  were  Thomas  Jones  of  Glouces- 
ter, Hosea  Ballou  of  Portsmouth,  Abner  Kneeland  of  Charles- 
town,  and  Edward  Turner  of  Salem,  all  prominent  clergymen 
of  that  communion,  settled  over  societies  in  the  places  named. 
The  contents  of  the  mamzine  were  chiefly  sermons,  essays,  and 
briefer  articles  upon  religious  and  doctrinal  points.  The  price 
was  25  cents  a  number.  The  numbers  for  June  and  Septem- 
ber were  printed  at  the  Register  office  ;  that  for  December,  by 
Ward  and  Coburn,  on  North  street ;  and  that  for  March,  1812, 
was  published  in  Charlestown.  The  2nd  volume  did  not  appear 
until  1817,  when  it  was  printed  by  Warwick  Palfray,  jr.  It 
was  now  edited  by  Hosea  Ballou  and  Edward  Turner.  At  the 
commencement  of  vol.  3,  April,  1818,  the  publication  was  re- 
moved to  Haverhill,  and  assumed  by  P.  N.  Green. 

15.  The  Salem  Observee.  The  first  number  of  "  The 
Observer"  was  published  January  2,  1823,  by  William  and 
Stephen  B.  Ives— the  former  an  apprentice  of  Mr.  Cushing,  of 
the  Gazette.     It  was  of  the  royal  size,  and  issued  weekly  on 

4 


Monday  evening,  from  the  Washington  Hall  building,  No.  2,. 
Court  street.  Price  $2.  The  paper  was  designed  to  be  a  liter- 
ary and  miscellaneous  sheet,  eschewing  party  politics, — a  char- 
acter Avhich  it  has  maintained  until  the  present  time.  It  was 
edited  by  Benj.  Lynde  Oliver,  Esq.,  during  the  first  year. 
After  the  fifth  number,  the  time  of  publication  was  changed  to 
Saturday  evening,  which  arrangement  continued  for  twenty-two 
numbers,  and  then  Saturday  morning  became  the  time  of  pub- 
lication, and  so  continues  now.  At  the  commencement  of  vol. 
2,  1824,  the  title  was  changed  to  "Salem  Observer,"  and  at 
the  same  time  Joseph  G.  Waters,  Esq.  became  editor,  as  suc- 
cessor to  Mr.  Oliver.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  year,  Mr.  Waters 
withdrew  from  the  responsibility  of  the  paper,  but  continued  to 
be  a  contributor  for  several  years  afterwards.  In  1825,  Jan. 
15,  the  name  was  enlarged  to  "  Salem  Literary  and  Commer- 
cial Observer,"  and  this  was  borne  until  January  3,  1829,  when 
the  title  "  Salem  Observer"  was  resumed. 

The  printing  oiSce  was  removed,  Nov.  25,  1826,  from  its 
original  location,  to  "Messrs.  P.  &  A.  Chase's  new  brick  building 
in  Washington  street."  There  it  remained  until  1832,  Feb.  4, 
when  it  was  again  removed  to  its  present  quarters  in  Stearns's 
building.  In  1837,  Jan.  7,  Mr.  George  W.  Pease,  who  had 
served  his  apprenticeship  in  the  ofiice,  was  admitted  to  the 
partnership,  and  in  1839,  Jan.  5,  Mr.  Stephen  B.  Ives  with- 
drew, leaving  the  firm  of  Ives  and  Pease. 

The  Observer  has  from  the  begining  ' '  pursued  the  even  tenor 
of  its  way,"  as  a  well-established  family  newspaper,  experienc- 
ing fewer  changes  of  fortune  than  some  papers  we  have  men- 
tioned, and  therefore  affording  fewer  incidents  "  to  make  a  note 
of."  At  the  termination  of  Mr.  Waters's  editorship,  Solomon 
S.  Whipple  became  a  regular  contributor  to  its  columns,  and 
afterwards  Wilson  Elagg,  Eev.  E.  M.  Stone,  Edwin  Jocelyn, 
Stephen  B.  Ives,  jr.,  and  the  writer  of  the  present  notice. 

16.  Salem  Courier.  In  1828,  September  17,  Charles 
Amburger  Andrew  began  a  weekly  paper,  the  "Salem  Courier," 
which  Avas  published  on  Wednesday,  at  $3,  from  an  office  in 
the  East  India  Marine  Hall  building.  It  proclaimed  itself 
"strictly  independent,"  a  supporter  of  Adams's  administration, 
an  opponent  of  the  tariff,  etc.  It  became  however  a  theological 
rather  than  a  political  paper,  and  was  a  zealous  antagonist  of 
the  doctrines  of  Calvinism.  Its  editor  was  a  pleasant  and 
humorous  writer,  and  had  able  correspondents.  But  the  paper 
was  continued  for  only  one  year.     Mr.  Andrews  was  a  member 


of  the  bar,  and  served  as  a  representative  of  the  city  in  tlie 
legislature.     He  died  June  IT,  1848. 

17.  The  Hive,  This  was  a  small  weekly  publication  for 
children,  commenced  on  Saturday,  Sept.  21,  1828,  by  W.  and 
S.  B.  Ives.  After  the  fifth  number  it  was  issued  on  Wednes- 
day. It  continued  for  two  years.  The  first  volume  was 
16 mo.,  and  the  second  an  8vo.  It  was  one  of  the  earliest  of 
papers  intended  exclusively  for  children,  which  are  now  so 
numerous  and  excellent. 

18.  Ladies'  Miscellany.  A  small  weekly  folio,  with 
this  title,  was  commenced  Jan.  6,  1829, — a  specimen  number 
having  been  issued  on  the  7th  of  November  preceding.  It  was 
"printed  at  the  Register  office,"  by  John  Chapman,  on  Tues- 
day, at  $1  per  year.  It  was  designed  "to  furnish  a  supply 
of  amusing,  instructive,  and  unexceptionable  reading  to  the 
Ladies'  of  Salem  and  vicinity."  At  the  close  of  the  volume 
the  issue  was  suspended,  for  want  of  support,  but  April  7, 
1830,  a  second  volume  was  commenced,  on  Wednesday,  in  con- 
sideration of  "  a  considerable  accession  to  the  list  of  subscribers." 
At  the  close  of  this  volume  the  publication  ceased. 

19.  Essex  County  Mercury.  The  publication  of  a  dim- 
inutive weekly  paper  by  the  proprietors  of  the  Gazette,  was 
commenced  in  1831,  June  8,  under  the  name  of  "  Salem  Mer- 
cury." It  has  since  been  much  enlarged,  and  is  now  entitled 
"Essex  County  Mercury,  Danvers,  Beverly,  and  Marblehead 
Courier."  It  is  made  up  mainly  from  the  columns  of  the 
Gazette. — Price  $1.50. 

20.  Salem  Advertiser.  The  first  organ  of  the  modern 
democratic  party  in  Salem,  was  "  The  Commercial  Advertiser," 
commenced  April  4,  1882,  by  Edward  Palfray  and  James  R. 
Cook.  It  was  started  as  a  semi-weekly,  on  Wednesday  and 
Saturday.  The  office  was  in  Central  building,  over  the 
Savings  Bank.  It  was  an  ardent  advocate  of  the  election  of 
Gen.  Jackson  to  the  Presidency,  and  throughout  its  existence 
of  seventeen  years  continued  to  uphold  the  views  of  the  demo- 
cratic party.  After  the  first  year  the  additional  title  of  "Essex 
County  Journal"  was  adopted  ;  and  it  was  published  as  a  week- 
ly, on  Wednesday,  until  July  8,  1887,  when  Palfray  and  Cook 
sold  out  to  Charles  W.  Woodbury,  who  issued  it  as  a  semi- 
weekly  again,  under  the  name  of  "  The  Salem  Advertiser." 
Thus  it  was  continued,  until  February  1849,  when  it  was  a 
weekly  once  more  until  its  final  close,  August  1,  1849. 
From  October  16,  1841,  until  September  11,  1844,  the  title 


•20 

wa:j  '' Sale  111  Advcrtisor  lUid  Argus;"    after  wliicli  the    word 
Argus  was  ouiittcJ. 

ISo  many  persons  were  connected  with  the  Advertiser,  at 
various  times,  as  editors  and  publishers,  that  we  must  mention 
them  briefly.  During  the  proprictorsliip  of  Mr.  Woodbury, 
JMr.  Wm.  B.  Pike  served  as  editor  for  about  six  weeks  from 
Oct.  17,  1838.  Mr.  Henry  Bkmey  served  two  terms  as  pro- 
prietor, first,  from  March  11,  1840,  until  Oct.  16,  1841 ;  and 
again  from  June  21,  1843,  until  Sept.  11,  1844.  Benj. 
Kingsbury,  jr.  Esq.,  now  of  Portland,  was  editor  during  the 
political  campaign  of  1840.  Edward  Palfray  took  a  second  turn 
of  two  years,  between  Mr.  Blaney's  two  periods.  H.  C.  Hobart, 
Esq.,  and  F.  C.  Crowninshield,  were  the  editors  during  the 
campaign  of  1844.  Mr.  Hobart  afterwards  went  to  Wisconsin, 
and  became  Speaker  of  the  Assembly.  Mr.  Crowninshield  en- 
listed for  the  Mexican  war,  and  was  lieutenant  of  a  company, 
Messrs.  Varney,  Parsons  &  Co.  were  the  next  publishers,  from 
1844,  Nov.  20,  to  1845,  Dec.  31,  and  were  succeeded  by 
Messrs.  Perley  and  Parsons,  Mr.  Varney  having  gone  to  the 
war  as  a  corporal.  The  final  publisher  was  Mr.  Eben  N. 
Walton,  who  began  Feb.  15,  1847,  and  continued  to  the  end. 
Mr.  Woodbury,  an  earlier  editor,  and  once  Postmaster  here, 
was  the  third  one  who  went  to  the  war.  He  was  drowned  on 
his  way  back.  Before  he  came  to  Salem  he  published  the 
Gloucester  Democrat.  Edward  Palfray,  the  projector  of  the 
paper,  and  the  person  who  was  longest  editor  of  it,  died  at  the 
Worcester  Hospital,  in  1840,  April  14,  aged  41.  He  was  a 
spirited  and  forcible  writer,  a  zealous  democrat  and  a  kind 
hearted  man. 

21.  Saturday  Evening  Bulletin.  This  was  the  title 
of  a  small  neutral  paper,  published  weekly,  by  Palfray  &  Cook, 
at  the  Advertiser  office.  Price  !^1.  It  continued  for  one  year, 
from  May  18,  1833,  when  it  was  relinquished  in  favor  of  a 
political  journal.     It  was  edited  by   Nicholas   Devereux,  Esq. 

22.  Tub  Constitutionalist.  This  was  the  political 
journal  which  followed  the  Bulletin.  Its  publishers  were  the 
same.  It  was  a  small  weekly.  It  sustained  Marcus  Morton 
for  Governor,  and  Joseph  S.  Cabot  for  congress.  The  duration 
of  this  paper  Avas  from  June  28,  1834  until  the  close  of  the 
year— a  little  more  than  six  months. 

23.  The  Landmark..  In  1834,  Aug.  20,  a  semi-weekly 
paper,  entitled  ^'  The  Landmark,"  of  goodly  size  and  elegant 
typography,  sent  out  its  first  number  from  a   new  printing 


27 

oiHcc,  corner  of  Essex  and  Liberty  streets.  It  was  printed  on 
Wednesday  and  Saturday,  by  Ferdinand  Andrews,  iormerly  of 
the  Gazette,  and  was  edited  by  Rev.  Dudley  Phelps.  It  was  a 
religious  sheet,  of  the  orthodox  persuasion,  and  favorable  to  the 
temperance  and  anti-slavery  movements.  It  was  tlic  occasion, 
by  reason  of  an  article  upon  the  former  subject  in  its  columns, 
of  a  great  excitement  in  this  community,  Avhich  will  be  long 
remembered.  Mr.  Phelps  Avithdrew  from  the  paper  before  the 
close  of  the  first  volume,  and  Mr.  Andrews  was  the  editor  until 
the  suspension  of  tlic  publication,  Nov.  2,  183G,  in  a  little  more 
than  two  years  from  the  outset. 

24.  The  Lighthouse.  During  the  time  of  the  Landmark, 
a  small  weekly  paper,  entitled  "The  Lighthouse,"  was  printed 
at  the  Gazette  office,  and  "  edited  by  an  Association  of  Gentle- 
men," the  design  of  which  was  "  to  represent  the  sentiments 
ami  espouse  the  interests  of  Liberal  Christianity."  It  was  re- 
cognized as  an  antagonist  of  the  Landmark,  and  was  continued 
from  June  11  until  Oct.  31,  of  the  year  1835.  The  first  nine 
numbers  were  issued  on  Monday ;  the  remainder  on  Saturday. 

25.  Essex  County  Democrat.  This  was  the  title  of  a 
paper  removed  hither  from  Gloucester  in  the  fall  of  1838,  to 
sustain  Joseph  S.  Cabot,  and  the  interests  of  the  Cabot  section 
of  the  democratic  party,  in  distinction  from  those  of  the 
Rantoul  section.  It  was  edited  and  published  by  Joseph  Dun- 
ham Friend.  The  first  number  was  issued  Nov.  2,  of  that 
year.  After  continuing  for  a  time  as  a  semi-weekly,  on 
Tuesday  and  Friday,  it  l^came  a  weekly.  It  expired  in  about 
three  months. 

26.  The  Harrisonian.  During  the  exciting  political 
contest  of  1840,  a  small  campaign  paper,  entitled  "  The  Har- 
risonian," containing  speeches  and  documents,  was  published 
by  the  editor  of  the  Gazette.  It  was  commenced  on  Saturday, 
Feb.  22,  and  continued  weekly  until  the  election,  lending  its 
aid  to  the  whig  nominees. 

27.  The  Whig.  This  also  was  a  campaign  paper,  a  few 
numbers  of  which  were  published  in  1840  at  the  Register  office 
to  promote  the  election  of  Gen.  Harrison  to  the  presidency. — 
Such  campaign  sheets  as  the  Whig  and  Harrisonian  were 
numerous  during  the  memorable  contest  of  that  year,  and 
exerted  a  large  influence  in  favor  of  the  election  of  Harrison 
and  Tyler.  They  were  published  at  very  low  rates,  and  freely 
purchased  by  political  clubs  for  gratuitous  distribution. 

28.  Genius  of  Christianity.    This  was  the  title  of  a 


small  semi-monthly  sheet,  printed  at  the  Observer  office,  for 
the  Rev.  A.  G.  Comings,  for  two  years  from  Jan.  1,  1841. — 
It  was  a  religious  paper,  as  its  title  indicates.  Mr.  Comings 
was  a  preacher  of  the  Campbellite  faith,  and  had  a  society  in  a 
room  on  Washington  street  opposite  the  Court  House. 

29.  The  Christian  Teacher.  This  was  substantially 
the  same  publication  as  the  "  Genius  of  Christianity,"'  contain- 
ing, as  it  did,  the  same  matter  as  that  sheet,  thrown  into  a 
quarto  form,  once  a  month,  for  circulation  through  the  mail. 
It  was  issued  during  the  year  1842.  The  printers  and  editor 
were  of  course  the  same. 

30.  "The  Locomotive,  an  Independent  Journal."  In 
April,  1842,  William  H.  Perley  commenced  a  weekly  paper  in 
Lynn,  entitled  "  The  Locomotive,"  which  was  removed  to 
Central  building,  Salem,  Dec.  17,  1842,  and  published  here  on 
Saturday,  until  July  8,  1843 — about  six  months.  A  few 
numbers  in  February  were  published  semi-weekly,  on  a  dimin- 
utive sheet.  From  May  13,  it  was  published  by  Perley  and 
Whittier.     It  was  humorous  and  miscellaneous  in  its  character. 

31.  Essex  County  Washingtonian.  This  paper  Avas 
printed  in  Lynn,  by  Christopher  Robinson,  and  was  published 
in  Lynn  and  Salem,  on  Thursday,  during  a  portion  of  the  year 
1842.  Its  connection  with  Salem  was  brief  and  merely  nom- 
inal. It  was  one  of  the  earliest  of  the  numerous  temperance 
periodicals  which  sprang  up  at  the  time  of  the  Washingtonian, 
or  moral  suasion,  movement.  The  editor  at  one  time  was  the 
Rev.  David  H.  Barlow,  of  Lynn. 

32.  Salem  Washingtonian.  This  paper,  like  the  pre- 
ceding one,  had  only  a  nominal  connection  wutli  our  city.  It  Avas 
printed  in  Boston,  by  J.  B.  Hall,  published  by  Theodore  Ab- 
bott, and  edited  by  Charles  W.  Denison.  Its  Salem  office  was 
in  Washington"  Hall,  (then  permanently  occupied  by  a  temper- 
ance society)  whence  it  Avas  circulated  on  Saturday,  for  a  short 
time,  in  1843,  commencing  July  8.  It  soon  afterAvards  assum- 
ed the  title  "  Ncav  England  Washingtonian,"  and  ay  as  published 
in  Boston  under  that  name  for  several  years. 

33.  Independent  Democrat.  A  division  existed  in  the 
democratic  party  in  1843,  which  led  to  the  establishment  of  a 
weekly  paper  here  to  sustain  David  Pingree  as  a  candidate  for 
Congress  against  Robert  Rantoul,  jr.  It  Avas  entitled  "In- 
dependent Democrat;"  Avas  commenced  March  G,  and  continued 
for  a  fcAV  Aveeks  only.     Wm.  H.  Perley  was  the  printer. 

34.  The  Voice  of  the  People,     In  1843,  May  7.  Syl- 


29 

vanus  BroAvn,  \vho%Yas  then  in  Sulcm  Jail  for  disturbing  a  reli- 
gious meeting,  published  at  the  Locomotive  office,  three  numbers 
of  a  small  sheet  with  the  foregoing  designation,  begining  May 
7,  1843. 

35.  Voice  Around  the  Jail.  In  1843,  Henry  Ciapp  jr. 
issued  a  small  transient  publication  with  the  foregoing  title, 
from  W.  H.  Perley's  printing  office.  Mr.  Clapp  was  editor  of 
the  Lynn  Pioneer,  and  was  then  an  occupant  of  Salem  Jail 
under  a  sentence  for  libel.  His  "  Voice"  in  this  printed  form 
was  in  favor  of  radical  reform. 

36.  The  Evangelist.  For  the  second  time  the  publica- 
tion of  a  Universalist  periodical  was  begun  in  Salem,  Aug.  12, 
1843.  It  was  a  small  weekly,  Avith  the  foregoing  title,  issued 
on  Saturday,  from  Samuel  T.  Damon's  office,  in  Manning's 
Building.  The  editors  were  L.  S.  Everett,  J.  M.  Austin,  and 
S.  C.  Bulkeley,  the  first  settled  over  the  Universalist  society  in 
Salem,  and  the  others  Pastors  in  Danvers.  The  Evangelist 
was  sustained  only  six  months. 

37.  Essex  County  Reformer.  This  was  the  third 
temperance  paper  published  here  as  an  aid  to  the  Washingtonian, 
or  moral  suasion,  movement.  It  was  issued  Aveekly,  on  Satur- 
day, upon  a  small  sheet,  from  the  office  of  S.  T.  Damon.  T.  G. 
Chipman  was  the  editor.  It  lasted  three  months  from  Sept.  2, 
1843. 

38.  The  Temperance  Offering.  The  Rev.  N.  Hervey, 
who  preached  to  a  Free  Church  in  Washington  Hall,  commen- 
ced, Feb.  1845,  a  monthly  12mo.  periodical,  with  the  title 
named  above.  During  that  year  it  was  printed  at  the  Gazette 
office.  The  second  and  last  vol.,  for  1846,  was  printed  in  Bos- 
ton, of  octavo  size,  and  with  the  additional  title  of  "Youth's 
Cascade."     The  volumes  have  since  been  issued  in  book  form. 

39.  Salem  Oracle.  In  1848,  two  numbers  of  a  small 
advertising  sheet,  called  the  "  The  Oracle,"  were  published  for 
the  months  of  January  and  February,  by  Henry  Blaney.  Four 
more  numbers,  enlarged,  for  the  four  months  following,  were 
printed  at  the  Gazette  office,  for  Jos.  L.  Wallis,  editor. 

40.  Essex  County  Times.  This  paper  was  a  demo- 
cratic weekly,  published  in  the  fall  of  1848,  by  E.  K.  Averill. 
It  began  in  Marblehead,  where  ten  numbers  were  issued,  and 
ended  its  brief  period  here  with  three  numbers  more.  It  was 
issued  irregularly.  The  principal  writer  for  its  columns  was 
E.  K.  Averill,  jr.,  who  was  better  known  as  a  writer  of  "  yel- 
low covered  literature  "  for  Gleason's  Publishing  House  in 
Boston. 


30 

41.  The  Free  World.  This  was  a  spirited  canipaifru 
paper,  published  during  the  presidential  contest  in  1848.  It 
commenced  Aug.  15,  and  continued  on  Friday  until  Nov.  10. 
The  editor  Avas  Geo.  F.  Chever,  Esq.  It  was  printed  at  the 
Observer  Office. 

42.  Salem  Daily  Chronicle.  The  first  attempt  to 
establish  a  daily  paper  in  Salem,  was  made  by  Henry  Blaney, 
■who,  in  1848,  March  1,  began  the  "  Salem  Daily  Chronicle!" 
It  was  printed  in  Bowker's  building,  and  published  every 
afternoon  at  one  cent  per  copy.  It  took  no  part  in  politics. — 
But  the  patronage  was  not  sufficient  to  sustain  it,  and  the  pub- 
lication ceased  with  the  70th  number,  issued  on  the  22d  of  May 
of  the  same  year. 

43.  The  Asteroid.  In  August,  1848,  Wm.  H.  Hutchin- 
son, a  job  printer,  commenced  a  small  monthly  sheet  for  the 
entertainment  of  the  young  people  in  our  public  scliools,  etc., 
entitled  as  above.  It  was  continued  here  for  several  months, 
and  was  then  removed  to  Boston. 

44.  E:ssEx  County  Freeman.  The  Free  Soil  movement 
in  1848-49  led  to  the  establishment  of  several  new  papers  in 
different  parts  of  the  Commonwealth.  One  of  these  was  The 
Essex  County  Freeman,  the  first  number  of  which  was  issued 
by  Gilbert  L.  Streeter  and  William  Porter,  Aug.  1,  1849.  It 
was  designed  to  aid  the  political  anti-slavery  movement,  and  in 
pursuance  of  this  purpose  sustained  the  nominations  of  the 
Free  Soil  party,  and  subsequently  those  of  the  coalition  of  the 
free  soil  and  democratic  parties.  It  was  published  semi-weekly, 
on  Wednesday  and  Saturday,  at  |3  per  year,  from  an  office  "in 
Hale's  building.  In  1850,  Nov.  25,  Mr. Streeter  withdrew  his 
interest  in  the  paper,  but  remained  as  editor.  The  publication 
■was  continued  by  Mr  Porter  until  1852,  Feb.  11,  when  he 
•withdrew,  and  the  publication  was  assumed  by  "  Benjamin  W. 
Lander  for  the  Proprietors.'^  At  the  same  time  Geo.  F. 
Chever,  Esq.,  associated  himself  with  the  former  editor  as 
joint  conductors  of  the  paper.  In  the  beginning  of  the  next 
year  the  establishment  was  purchased  by  Rev.  J.  E.  Pomfret, 
the  former  editors  continuing  their  services  in  that  department 
for  several  months.  Mr.  Pomfret  was  the  publisher  of  the 
paper  for  one  year,  after  which  Edwin  Lawrence,  of  the  Lynn 
Bay  State,  became  the  proprietor.  He  issued  it  weekly  until 
June  14,  1854,  when  the  publication  ceased,  after  a  term  of 
five  years. 

45.  Beverly  Citizen.     Although   the   Beverly   Citizen 


31 

seems  not  to  be  entitled  to  a  place  among  Salem  papers,  wo 
place  it  in  the  list,  because  it  was  printed  here,  and  for  a  time 
partly  owned  here.  It  was  commenced  in  1851,  and  issued 
weekly,  on  Saturday,  by  xindrew  F.  Wales,  a  periodical 
dealer  in  Beverly.  At  first  printed  in  Boston,  it  was  after- 
wards, beginning  June  28,  1851,  printed  at  the  Salem  Observer 
office.  In  March.  1853,  J.  E.  Pomfret  took  an  interest  in  it, 
and  it  was  printed  at  the  Freeman  office,  until  its  stoppage  in 
1851.  The  editor  at  one  time  was  Rev.  Mr.  Washburn,  of 
Beverly,  deceased,  and  subsequently  Mr.  Wilson  Flagg,  of  the 
same  place. 

40.  The  National  Democrat.  On  Saturday,  May  24, 
1851,  Mr.  James  Coffin  issued  a  specimen  number  of  "The 
National  Democrat,"  but  the  patronage  offered  did  not  warrant 
a  continuance  of  the  paper.  It  was  designed  to  oppose  the 
coalition  of  the  free  soil  and  democratic  parties. 

47.  The  Union  Democrat.  The  next  movement  for  an 
anti-coalition  democratic  paper  was  more  successful.  The 
Union  Democrat  lasted  over  ten  months.  It  was  commenced 
by  Samuel  Fabyan,  a  printer  from  Boston,  July  31,  1852,  and 
closed  Oct.  6,  when  it  was  removed  to  Boston.  The  office  was 
in  Bowker's  building.  It  was  published  on  Wednesday  and 
Saturday. 

48.  Massachusetts  Freeman.  This  was  the  title  of  a 
weekly  free  soil  paper,  published  for  a  short  time  by  J.  E. 
Pomfret,  commencing  June  8,  1853.  It  was  made  up  from 
the  columns  of  the  Essex  Co.  Freeman.  Mr.  Pomfret,  previous 
to  his  commencement  in  Salem,  had  published  several  papers, 
the  last  of  which  was  the  Amesbury  A'illager.  He  was  a  minis- 
ter of  the  Universalist  persuasion,  and  is  now  settled  in  Hav- 
erhill. 

49.  The  People's  Advocate.  This  paper  was  begun 
in  Marblehead,  in  November  184T,  by  Rev.  Robinson  Breare, 
a  Universalist  minister,  and  bore  the  title  of  "  The  Marblehead 
Mercury."  In  1848,  it  became  the  property  of  James  Coffin 
and  Daniel  R.  Beckford.  In  1849  it  was  entitled  "  The 
People's  Advocate  and  Marblehead  Mercury,"  and  in  August 
of  that  year  Mr.  Coffin  became  sole  proprietor.  In  Oct.  1853, 
it  abandoned  its  neutral  position  in  favor  of  the  advocacy  of  the 
views  of  the  democratic  party.  In  October,  1854,  the  printing 
office  was  moved  to  Salem,  and  the  title  of  the  paper  was 
abreviated  to  "  The  People's  Advocate."  It  is  now  published 
weekly,  on  Saturday,  at  No.  8,  Derby  Square. 

5 


32 

50.  Salem  Daily  Journal.  The  second  attempt  to 
establish  a  daily  penny  paper  in  Salem,  was  made  by  Edwin 
Lawrence,  in  1854,  He  published  the  first  number  of  the 
"  Salem  Daily  Journal"  on  the  24th  of  July,  of  that  year. 
It  was  published  in  the  afternoon,  as  the  Chronicle  had  been  in 
1848.  The  experiment  Avas  not  successful,  and  the  publication 
was  abandoned  November  24, 1855,  after  a  trial  of  over  a  year. 
The  Journal  w^as  at  first  neutral,  afterwards  favorable  to  the 
Native  American  party,  and  in  the  fall  of  1855  approved  the 
Republican  nominations.  Mr.  Lawrence,  previous  to  his  re- 
moval to  Salem,  had  published  the  Newburyport  L'nion,  Lynn 
Bay  State,  and  Essex  County  Freeman. 


The  notice  of  the  Daily  Journal,  the  fiftieth  of  the  list,  con- 
cludes our  brief  account  of  the  periodicals  of  Salem.  The 
reader  has  doubtless  observed  that  but  few  of  these  many  en- 
terprises have  been  permanently  successful.  Most  of  the  jour-^ 
nals  which  we  have  named,  died  in  early  infancy:  only  three  of 
the  whole  number  have  survived  a  generation.  The  multipli- 
cation of  newspapers  during  this  period  has  been  exceedingly 
rapid,  and  yet  where  one  has  succeeded  perhaps  fifty  have  fiiilcd. 
Often  commenced  merely  as  business  speculations,  rather  than 
to  meet  the  wants  of  the  community,  they  have  not  been  sus- 
tained by  the  public,  because  not  needed. 

When  Mr.  Hall  issued  his  proposals  for  the  publication  _  of  a 
"Weekly  Publick  Paper"  in  this  place,  such  a  vehicle  of  infor- 
mation was  greatly  desired.  Newspapers  were  few  in  number 
and  confined  to  the  large  seaboard  towns.  They  were  looked 
for  and  read  in  the  country  with  the  deepest  interest.  The  ap- 
pearance of  the  weekly  sheet  was  an  event  of  importance  to 
people  of  all  classes.  Now  they  abound  everywhere.  Almost 
every  considerable  village  in  the  country  can  boast  its  local 
print.  Then,  the  expense  attending  the  publication  of  a  ncAvspaper 
was  very  great.  Paper  was  scarce  and  costly,  and  other  materials 
obtainable  only  by  importation  from  the  mother  country.  The 
style  of  the  papers,  in  respect  to  typographical  appearance, 
was  quite  inferior.  The  old  Essex  Gazette  is  a  curiosity  of  the 
printer's  art,  although  it  was  in  all  respects  a  superior  paper 
for  those  days. 

During  the  past  fifty  years  the  art  of  type-making  has  ad- 


vanced  rapidly,  and  wonderful  improvements  have  been  made  in 
presses  and  other  contrivances  and  materials  employed  in  the 
printing  business.  The  art  of  icood-ciitting,  has  been,  we 
might  almost  say,  discovered,  since  the  days  when  grotesque 
devices,  clumsily  executed,  figured  so  extensively  at  the  head 
of  the  little  colonial  journals.  The  rude  wood-cuts  which  then 
Avere  supposed  to  adorn  the  public  sheets  are  curious  and  amus- 
ing exhibitions  of  the  infancy  of  this  delicate  art,  now  so  use- 
ful in  elegant  and  cheap  illustrations.  If  any  one  is  interested 
to  see  the  first  difficult  beginnings  of  the  engraver's  skill,  he 
may  find  many  singular  specimens  in  Thomas's  History  of 
Printing — a  valuable  and  rare  work,  now  out  of  print.  A  few 
instances  are  also  given  in  Mr.  Buckingham's  interesting 
Reminiscences  of  the  newspaper  press, — to  which  work  as 
well  as  to  the  former  one,  we  are  indebted  for  some  of  the 
statements  in  this  account.  A  comparison  of  the  uncouth 
adornments  of  the  papers  of  the  Revolutionary  period,  with 
the  exquisite  wood  engravings  of  Harper's  Magazine,  affords  a 
contrast  nearly  as  great  as  that  exhibited  by  the  toilsome  oper- 
ations of  an  old  hand-press  beside  the  wonderful  rapidity  of  the 
lightning  cylinder  machines  of  the  present  day. 

The  ancient  newspapers  were  of  small  dimensions,  printed 
on  large  types,  with  clumsy  presses,  and  upon  coarse  paper. 
Such  were  the  early  prints  of  Salem.  They  were  less  various 
in  their  contents  than  those  of  our  time,  and  were  made  up 
without  much  order  or  method.  They  were  less  full  and 
minute  in  respect  to  local  and  general  information.  But  little 
effort  was  made  to  gather  the  countless  fragments  of  news 
which  now  distend  the  columns  of  the  public  journal.  In  all 
these  respects  there  has  been  a  great  improvement  in  the  public 
prints.  But  in  regard  to  honest  industry  and  enterprise,  public 
spirit,  boldness  and  freedom  of  expression,  patriotic  and  noble 
endeavor,  we  do  not  know  that  any  superiority  can  be  claimed 
for  the  modern  journals.  In  these  particulars  the  publishers 
of  ante-Revolutionary  times  were  generally  worthy  of  the  high- 
est praise. 


After  the  reading  of  his  communication,    it  was 
Voted,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Essex  Institute  be  presented 
to  Mr.  Streeter,   for  his  valuable   and  interesting  series   of 
remarks,  which  so  pleasantly  occupied  the  evening's  session. 


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